“What gets scary is when your self-worth is tied up in what strangers think of you.”

~ Emma Watson

My entire life I have heard, “Oh! you’re that girl that does ballet.” Loving ballet and what it has done for my life I never saw this as a negative saying. Now years later, being 21 and in college, I have adopted two more “You’re that girl” sayings. All three unfortunately can lack respect from people that look from the outside in with an uneducated perspective. After explaining these crucial parts of my life I hope that it can be understood how important and respectable being “that girl” means to me.

“You’re That Girl That Does Ballet”

Attempting to sum up 13 years of my life in a few short paragraphs is quite the challenge! Ballet has been a part of my identity since I was eight years old. It was difficult as a child to comply with the mental and physical discipline ballet required. From an early age this taught me to work hard and never to give up. Don’t get me wrong there were several days of frustration and tears but those moments were followed by moments of triumph.

Ballet has opened several doors for me in my life. I have trained with three professional schools over summers, won several awards and danced leading roles in my studios productions. Yet, these moments aren’t what have held the most weight. My ballet instructor, Ceci Klein, is one of the most influential people I’ve had in my life. She saw potential and believed in me even when I didn’t. She pushed me to moments of extreme defeat that ultimately made me strive to succeed. Ceci taught me more than just Plié and proper technique. She taught me respect, class, and perseverance. These qualities and many more are what make me proud of what I have accomplished over the years.

Ballet isn’t for the weak at heart, mind or body. When someone watches ballet it looks effortless and graceful, almost easy! Know that this is what ballet dancers train to do hours a day for countless years. Quoting Ceci, “We are in the business of creating beauty so we shouldn’t look life buffalo tromping through the mud!”. I remember Ceci every time I take the stage and always embrace the hundreds of other lessons ballet has taught me. Being “that girl that does ballet” is something I am extremely honored to be.

“You’re That Girl That’s in a Sorority”

(Cue the high pitched, valley girl voice) …..OMG…. I’m in a sorority!

Alright, back to normal. There are so many stereotypes attached to women that are members of sororities and it truly streams from the media. Through TV shows like “Greek” and movies like “Legally Blonde” (both which I have watched and love) give the impression that sorority women are superficial, dumb and are both obsessed with guys and partying. Even being new to a sorority at Boise State University I am the first to say that these are proven false.

I always knew I wanted to “Go Greek” in college yet it was put on hold as I made the decision to begin my college career at a two-year community college. I graduated with my Associates Degree from North Idaho College in the Spring of 2015 and transferred to Boise State University in the Fall of 2015. Recruitment was a whirlwind of a weekend where I had the chance to meet all the sororities on campus and go through the process of finding my home within one. At the end of that weekend I became of new member of the Theta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha.

My first year in ASA has been incredible! It has provided me with chances to be involved on campus and in the community. Every sorority and fraternity on campus has a philanthropy they support though volunteering, raising money and/or creating awareness. ASA supports Special Olympics, Girls on the Run and the S. June Smith Center. One of my favorite parts about being Greek at Boise State is how supportive the Greek community is of one another, even if you aren’t part of the same organization. It’s understood that each sorority and fraternity is trying to make their positive mark and a difference in the world around us. Being in a sorority also requires that you maintain a good standing in grades, are active in community service and are involved in making improvements within the chapter.

However, the one thing that I love most about being a sorority woman is being able to surround myself with other incredible women that embody the same characteristics as I and strive for the same college experience. In this year alone I have met some of the most remarkable friends that I will hold on to for the rest of my life. As a transfer student they took me in and we have been making memories ever since. My sorority Big, in particular, is someone I have respected and looked up to since the first time I saw her. Literally, I hadn’t even met her, just creepily admired her from afar. Taylor is driven, intelligent, kind, stylish and honestly someone I am blessed to call a dear friend. I owe Alpha Sigma Alpha much gratitude for introducing me to life long friends and for that I will gladly be called “that girl in a sorority”.

When I tell someone I compete in pageants they usually come back with a comment about “Toddlers in Tiaras”. Sigh…. This time last year I knew very little about pageantry and was just starting on a wonderful journey within the Miss America Organization. I decided to compete at my first local in March of 2015 and I was clueless! I didn’t have pageant experience but I knew it was something I had thought about doing since I was a little girl. I would watch the Miss America pageant on television and could only dream of what it would be like to represent my state on that stage. I wouldn’t have ever though my dream could become a reality in the next few years!

Now just 14 months after my first local pageant I look back and am in awe of how this organization has impacted my life. I have met so many wonderful, smart and driven women, have been able to impact my community and grow as an individual. Being awarded first runner up at Miss Idaho 2015 was a blessing and being able to represent Idaho at the National Sweetheart Pageant was an experience I’ll never forget. Having been crowned National Sweetheart 2015 was the cherry on top of a week where I was blessed with friendships from all over the country and experienced growth in my abilities. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to be involved with the Miss Idaho Organization, work on the goals I have set forth and strive to represent Idaho on the Miss America stage.

I admire the women that are in the Miss America Organization and am thankful that we represent women of service, style, scholarship and success. From wearing a crown out in the community I have learned that you never judge a book by its cover! I proudly wear my crown and represent the organization with the upmost pride, fully accepting the title of “the girl that does pageants”.

No matter if you’re that girl that does gymnastics or that guy that does crossfit embracing what is important to you is a must. Not everyone is going to understand or even respect everything you do but as long as it is bettering your life and there is passion behind it, stay true to yourself. Be unique. Be happy. Be you.